An Afghan girl looks from behind a wall near the Char Dara District Police Headquarters. The position of women in Afghanistan has improved dramatically since the fall of the Taliban, with the number of girls in education soaring. But as the Americans and the Afghan government have pursued peace efforts with the Taliban, women are increasingly concerned that gains in their rights may be compromised in a bid to end the costly and deadly war.

Israeli mounted policemen move crowds of Palestinian protesters during a demonstration marking Land Day, which began in 1976 and marks the day Israeli forces killed six Palestinians during a protest against Israeli occupation of what Palestinians consider to be their land. Palestinians around the world will commemorate Land Day with protests and demonstrations.

An Afghan carries a bundle of wood in the province of Kunduz. The Afghan economy has always been based on agriculture, despite the fact that only 13% of its total land is arable and just 8% is currently cultivated.

Pictures in the News | March 30, 2012

In today’s round-up of photos a police K-9 jumps through hoops of fire in Medellin, Colombia; Palestinian protests were held across the Palestinian territories to mark Land Day, German soldiers sweep for improvised explosive devices during a patrol in Afghanistan and more.